Overview

The typical role of the Chief Judge of a Judicial Circuit is to “exercise administrative supervision over all the trial courts within the judicial circuit and over the judges and other officers of such courts.” Fla. Stat. § 43.26(1). In the context of elections, the Chief Judge plays a role in ensuring that there are no vacancies on the County Canvassing Board.

Election-Related Duties

The key duties of the Chief Judge of a Judicial Circuit are:

1. Appointing at least two County Court Judges to serve as alternate County Canvassing Board members. Fla. Stat. § 102.141(1); see also Fla. Stat. § 102.141(1)(e).
2. Filling vacancies on the County Canvassing Board only when initial methods of filling vacancies failed. See Fla. Stat. § 102.141.

Selection and Vacancy Information

• **Appointed: ****The Chief Judge of each judicial circuit is “chosen by a majority of the active circuit and county court judges within the circuit.” See Fla. Const. Art. V, § 2; Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.215(c).
  • If no candidates for Chief Judge receive majority support, the Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court will appoint an individual to serve as Chief Judge. Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.215(c).
• Term of Office: Chief Judges serve two-year terms that begin on July 1 in every odd-numbered year. Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.215(c). **A Circuit Court judge can serve as Chief Judge for successive terms, but cannot serve more than 8 years. Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.215(c).
• Next Election: Elections must take place by February 1 of the year that a new term will begin. Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.215(c). The next election must take place by February 1, 2025. See Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.215(c).
• Qualifications:
  • The chief judge must be “a circuit court judge who possesses managerial, administrative, and leadership abilities…” Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.215(b)(1).
  • The candidate must reside in the territorial jurisdiction of the court. Fla. Const. Art. V, § 8.
  • The individual must be younger than 75 years old to be a judge, “except upon temporary assignment . . . .” Fla. Const. Art. V, § 8.
• Removal:
  • A Circuit Court judge can be removed from his or her role as Chief Judge by the Florida Supreme Court. Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.215(c).
  • A Circuit Court judge can be removed from his or her role as Chief Judge by a two-thirds vote of active judges. Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.215(c).
• Vacancy:**
  • The Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court appoints a Circuit Court judge to serve as the Chief Judge “during the absence or disability or until a successor chief judge is elected to serve the unexpired term” if the Chief Judge “dies, retires, fails to appoint an acting chief judge during an absence, or is unable to perform the duties of the office.” Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.215(c).
  • Until the Chief Justice acts to appoint an individual to serve as Chief Judge, “the duties of court administration are performed by the circuit judge having the longest continuous service as a judge or by another circuit judge designated by that judge.” Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.215(c).